IG Prestige S Review

JackB1 · Jan 19, 2012

I just got a Prestige S demo and can't wait to try it out. I will post my thoughts here in the following days and welcome anyone else who has tried this racquet to chime in as well...

My demo weighs 330 grams with overgrip and dampener, which is right where I like my racquets to be. It "feels" lighter than that though just dry swinging, but that can sometimes be deceiving. I will try it stock first and I am hoping it has enough weight and plow to work without having to whip it really fast. I tried the YT Prestige Pro for a week and loved the feel of it, but it was a bit too demanding for me. I am hoping the S gives me the same feel but in a lighter more powerful package. There is some room to add lead if it seems to require it, but we'll have to see how it plays stock first.

The grip feels more round than the normal Head grip that is on the Prestiges and Radicals of the past.. Can anyone else confirm?

Anyway, stay tuned...I will have some playtest comments soon.

atatu · Jan 19, 2012

Yes, please post a review as I am interested in how the S compares to the YT Prestige Pro that I bought from you. I just got the new Radical Pro demo as well and will hit with it tomorrow. By the way, do you recall how you strung that YT PP ? It feels pretty good.

JackB1 · Jan 20, 2012

atatu said:
Yes, please post a review as I am interested in how the S compares to the YT Prestige Pro that I bought from you. I just got the new Radical Pro demo as well and will hit with it tomorrow. By the way, do you recall how you strung that YT PP ? It feels pretty good.

that PP had Babolat multi feel mains and RPM crosses.

EKnee08 · Jan 20, 2012

JackB1 said:
I just got a Prestige S demo and can't wait to try it out. I will post my thoughts here in the following days and welcome anyone else who has tried this racquet to chime in as well...

My demo weighs 330 grams with overgrip and dampener, which is right where I like my racquets to be. It "feels" lighter than that though just dry swinging, but that can sometimes be deceiving. I will try it stock first and I am hoping it has enough weight and plow to work without having to whip it really fast. I tried the YT Prestige Pro for a week and loved the feel of it, but it was a bit too demanding for me. I am hoping the S gives me the same feel but in a lighter more powerful package. There is some room to add lead if it seems to require it, but we'll have to see how it plays stock first.

The grip feels more round than the normal Head grip that is on the Prestiges and Radicals of the past.. Can anyone else confirm?

Anyway, stay tuned...I will have some playtest comments soon.

I am anxiously awaiting your review. Over the last 3 years despite numerous playtests and a temporary swithc to the youtek prestige mp, I kept goig back to customized youtek radical mps.

JackB1 · Jan 20, 2012

EKnee08 said:
I am anxiously awaiting your review. Over the last 3 years despite numerous playtests and a temporary swithc to the youtek prestige mp, I kept goig back to customized youtek radical mps.

I wish Head would make a Radical MP with a 16x19 pattern. The Rad Pro is always to awkward due to its heavy swingweight and close to even balance. The MP has much friendlier specs, but I prefer an open pattern, The Radical S is just way too light.

Dgdavid · Jan 20, 2012

isn't the IG Speed 300 like a Radical MP but 16x19? 300g vs 295g of Radical MP. Thin frame. That's one of the reason I went Speed 300 after various other rackets including RMP.

JackB1 · Jan 20, 2012

Dgdavid said:
isn't the IG Speed 300 like a Radical MP but 16x19? 300g vs 295g of Radical MP. Thin frame. That's one of the reason I went Speed 300 after various other rackets including RMP.

I don't think the Speed 300 is like a 16x19 Radical MP. I tried the 300 and it was extremely light and whippy feeling but also pretty low powered. That wasn't a great combination for me. I much prefered the plow and power of the Speed 315.

atatu · Jan 20, 2012

JackB1 said:
I don't think the Speed 300 is like a 16x19 Radical MP. I tried the 300 and it was extremely light and whippy feeling but also pretty low powered. That wasn't a great combination for me. I much prefered the plow and power of the Speed 315.

Let us know how you think this racket stacks up against the London, if you don't mind.

drumnman2 · Jan 20, 2012

I got to hit with this and the IG Pres. Pro the other night. Both strung with Gamma TNT 2 @ mid tension. Just hitting, no games. I was most excited about the pro but the feel seemed too much like last years. Too stiff of a string bed for me. The "S" on the other hand I really liked. I could take as big a cut at the ball as I wanted and the spin and rather low power would keep it in. I hit rather flat but still didn't have any balls flying on me. It was also very stable for the weight and I had no problems with it twisting or getting pushed back. I wouldn't say the balls had a lot of weight to them tho. Great placement but of course you just can't plow thru and crush the ball as you can with a heavier racquet. The only thing was when I got home I had a very sore shoulder. I hope I tweaked something and it wasn't the racquet. The specs sure don't indicate it would be hard on the arm. I will play some dubs on Sun. and we'll see how it goes.

JackB1 · Jan 20, 2012

drumnman2 said:
I got to hit with this and the IG Pres. Pro the other night. Both strung with Gamma TNT 2 @ mid tension. Just hitting, no games. I was most excited about the pro but the feel seemed too much like last years. Too stiff of a string bed for me. The "S" on the other hand I really liked. I could take as big a cut at the ball as I wanted and the spin and rather low power would keep it in. I hit rather flat but still didn't have any balls flying on me. It was also very stable for the weight and I had no problems with it twisting or getting pushed back. I wouldn't say the balls had a lot of weight to them tho. Great placement but of course you just can't plow thru and crush the ball as you can with a heavier racquet. The only thing was when I got home I had a very sore shoulder. I hope I tweaked something and it wasn't the racquet. The specs sure don't indicate it would be hard on the arm. I will play some dubs on Sun. and we'll see how it goes.

Did the S have more power than the Pro? Does the S require a very fast swing to use effectively? That is what I am worried about. You may want to try adding a little weight to the S? Maybe 3 grams at 3/9 and 3 grams in the handle.

drumnman2 · Jan 21, 2012

JackB1 said:
Did the S have more power than the Pro? Does the S require a very fast swing to use effectively? That is what I am worried about. You may want to try adding a little weight to the S? Maybe 3 grams at 3/9 and 3 grams in the handle.[/QUOTE

I would say there is more pop off the string bed with the S than the pro. As far as power, yes I think you do need to swing faster with the S to get the same power, or ball speed and weight.But I felt you don't have exaggerate the top spin to keep it in, it comes naturally. I was having so much fun swinging out on everything and the ball still going in I think that might have stressed my shoulder. It is a control racquet more than a power one for sure, but that's what I like. It is also about 3/4 to an oz lighter than I usually use. Mine came in at 11.5 oz. and 5 pts. head light with an overgrip and dampner. And yes the grip is more rounded than the other prestiges which is good for me. No I don't care for the clear caps and the paint looks a little cheap for a prestige with the chrome lettering. I will take your advise and add some lead for my next outing and see how that goes. Been 3 days and the shoulder is still sore tho. Hope you enjoy yours.

JackB1 · Jan 21, 2012

drumnman2 said:
JackB1 said:

Did the S have more power than the Pro? Does the S require a very fast swing to use effectively? That is what I am worried about. You may want to try adding a little weight to the S? Maybe 3 grams at 3/9 and 3 grams in the handle.[/QUOTE

I would say there is more pop off the string bed with the S than the pro. As far as power, yes I think you do need to swing faster with the S to get the same power, or ball speed and weight.But I felt you don't have exaggerate the top spin to keep it in, it comes naturally. I was having so much fun swinging out on everything and the ball still going in I think that might have stressed my shoulder. It is a control racquet more than a power one for sure, but that's what I like. It is also about 3/4 to an oz lighter than I usually use. Mine came in at 11.5 oz. and 5 pts. head light with an overgrip and dampner. And yes the grip is more rounded than the other prestiges which is good for me. No I don't care for the clear caps and the paint looks a little cheap for a prestige with the chrome lettering. I will take your advise and add some lead for my next outing and see how that goes. Been 3 days and the shoulder is still sore tho. Hope you enjoy yours.

Click to expand...

Just wondering why you don't use the YT Prestige Pro? It sounds perfect for you.

JackB1 · Jan 21, 2012

no chance to play today....rainy and wet in Atlanta all day :-(

TimothyO · Jan 21, 2012

JackB1 said:
no chance to play today....rainy and wet in Atlanta all day :-(

Should be clear on Sunday Jack!

Eagerly awaiting your review. I've been enjoying my modded 300 for several months now but like you am always curious and like to tinker. Your comments on the stock 300 are spot on...light and whippy. I like its flexier frame more than the Speed MP 16x19 so went with the 300 and added a heavy grip, OG, and lead.

Tried a few serves today on a wet court with the YT Prestige Pro (unmodded demo). Very much at my upper limit for weight and could feel the effect of the stiffness AFTER the brief session of roughly 24 serves.

JackB1 · Jan 21, 2012

TimothyO said:
Should be clear on Sunday Jack!

Eagerly awaiting your review. I've been enjoying my modded 300 for several months now but like you am always curious and like to tinker. Your comments on the stock 300 are spot on...light and whippy. I like its flexier frame more than the Speed MP 16x19 so went with the 300 and added a heavy grip, OG, and lead.

Tried a few serves today on a wet court with the YT Prestige Pro (unmodded demo). Very much at my upper limit for weight and could feel the effect of the stiffness AFTER the brief session of roughly 24 serves.

Hey Tim! I like to use some of the racquet's mass to get depth and pace on my shots. The Speed 300 needed very whippy and fast swings to compensate for the lack of racquet mass. The 315 worked much better for me and I sometimes wonder why I gave up that racquet?

.

The YT Prestige Pro is a sublime feeling stick. One of those racquets that you hit just to hit with it

. Its that nice. But its more demanding than my DC Pro and if my main concern is to win my league matches, then I need to go with gives me best chance to win. The weight is manageable and it does feel noticeably heavy after a while. I would need about 2 weeks of playing with it and it alone to get more used to it. Like you, it's right at my upper swingweight limit. That's why I have so much hope for the Prestige S, which is about 12 grams lighter. I am hoping it has that same wonderful buttery feel of the Pro, but in a lighter package. If it lacks plow I can always add a little lead and still keep it under the Pro's swingweight.

atatu · Jan 22, 2012

I used the YT Prestige Pro in a tournament yesterday and played one of my better matches in several years. This morning...a bit sore and I think the frame is just a touch stiff for me. Looking at the IG S specs...if I added a leather grip would it be pretty close to the YTPP - just not as stiff ?

JackB1 · Jan 22, 2012

atatu said:
I used the YT Prestige Pro in a tournament yesterday and played one of my better matches in several years. This morning...a bit sore and I think the frame is just a touch stiff for me. Looking at the IG S specs...if I added a leather grip would it be pretty close to the YTPP - just not as stiff ?

Maybe? I don't like leather so I would just add some lead tape.

Going out to hit some now with the S. Hope the courts are dry.

scotus · Jan 22, 2012

atatu said:
I used the YT Prestige Pro in a tournament yesterday and played one of my better matches in several years. This morning...a bit sore and I think the frame is just a touch stiff for me. Looking at the IG S specs...if I added a leather grip would it be pretty close to the YTPP - just not as stiff ?

Is that the new IG YT PP or the old model?

JackB1 · Jan 22, 2012

OK..finally some impressions

Played 2 sets of singles today after rallying for about 30 mins. The conditions were a little damp, so not ideal, but what can u do? My demo is strung with full multi - Wilson Sensation, so keep that in mind.

I was hoping for a slightly easier to use Prestige Pro, but it seems like you sacrifice some plow and power to get there. I tried the S in stock form today and it definitely requires a fast whippy swing. I found balls landing short if I used the same swing as I usually do with my DC Pro. I was expecting more power...especially with full multi, but it wasn't there. I think it leans more towards control than power. The racquet also lacks "ooomph" and plow behind the ball. All the comments in TW's review were spot on. This racquet would work for someone who wants a lighter player type racquet that they can swing fast and not worry about balls going long. Serves were pretty good and I think with a little lead tape, they could equal my DC Pro.

So I am somewhat disappointed, but I was kind of expecting this. For me...my sweet spot is somewhere in between the S and the Pro. I LOVE the Pro's power and plowthru with just a nice relaxed swing. But it is a little demanding at times due the weight and I cannot serve as effectively with it as I can with my DC Pro. Next time out, I am going to try adding some lead tape to the S to see if it will increase plow and power up to my required levels. I am thinking about adding 3" strips at 3/9 and 6" on the handle. I dont want to get up near the 12 oz. of the Pro...so I only have room to add about 5 grams. I think Head would have been smarter to have made the beam 2 mm thicker and the frame a little stiffer. I feel like it's too underpowered to play with in stock form unless you like to swing very fast.

One other thing...the racquet sounds a little "pingy" on contact. Once I removed the Head dampener and put on a Sampras O ring, it wasn't as bad, but it still wasn't a satisfying sound. The Wilson Sensation strings may also have something to do with that. Also, the grip is a little large. The 3/8 with an overgrip is the same diameter and my usual 4 1/2" with overgrip. The grip also feels rounder than past Head racquets, but I am not sure if that is real or perceived?

In conclusion...I like the racquet enough to try it some more with some lead tape. I wish I had my preferred strings/tension on it, since that could change a lot, but I am not going to restring a demo. The frame is just gorgeous to look at and I like the clear cap grommets.

Nostradamus · Jan 22, 2012

What is the S for ?

Anton · Jan 22, 2012

Nostradamus said:
What is the S for ?

Spin

fn 10 char

atatu · Jan 22, 2012

scotus said:
Is that the new IG YT PP or the old model?

It's the old version, YT Prestige Pro.

Veninga · Jan 22, 2012

JackB1 said:
OK..finally some impressions

Played 2 sets of singles today after rallying for about 30 mins. The conditions were a little damp, so not ideal, but what can u do? My demo is strung with full multi - Wilson Sensation, so keep that in mind.

I was hoping for a slightly easier to use Prestige Pro, but it seems like you sacrifice some plow and power to get there. I tried the S in stock form today and it definitely requires a fast whippy swing. I found balls landing short if I used the same swing as I usually do with my DC Pro. I was expecting more power...especially with full multi, but it wasn't there. I think it leans more towards control than power. The racquet also lacks "ooomph" and plow behind the ball. All the comments in TW's review were spot on. This racquet would work for someone who wants a lighter player type racquet that they can swing fast and not worry about balls going long. Serves were pretty good and I think with a little lead tape, they could equal my DC Pro.

So I am somewhat disappointed, but I was kind of expecting this. For me...my sweet spot is somewhere in between the S and the Pro. I LOVE the Pro's power and plowthru with just a nice relaxed swing. But it is a little demanding at times due the weight and I cannot serve as effectively with it as I can with my DC Pro. Next time out, I am going to try adding some lead tape to the S to see if it will increase plow and power up to my required levels. I am thinking about adding 3" strips at 3/9 and 6" on the handle. I dont want to get up near the 12 oz. of the Pro...so I only have room to add about 5 grams. I think Head would have been smarter to have made the beam 2 mm thicker and the frame a little stiffer. I feel like it's too underpowered to play with in stock form unless you like to swing very fast.

One other thing...the racquet sounds a little "pingy" on contact. Once I removed the Head dampener and put on a Sampras O ring, it wasn't as bad, but it still wasn't a satisfying sound. The Wilson Sensation strings may also have something to do with that. Also, the grip is a little large. The 3/8 with an overgrip is the same diameter and my usual 4 1/2" with overgrip. The grip also feels rounder than past Head racquets, but I am not sure if that is real or perceived?

In conclusion...I like the racquet enough to try it some more with some lead tape. I wish I had my preferred strings/tension on it, since that could change a lot, but I am not going to restring a demo. The frame is just gorgeous to look at and I like the clear cap grommets.

Hi Jack, how would you compare this one with the BB London / Bio 300 Tour / Bio 200 Lite and EXO 3 Tour? Any word is welcome in my quest

. Thanks.

atatu · Jan 22, 2012

atatu said:
It's the old version, YT Prestige Pro.

Not the IG.

JackB1 · Jan 22, 2012

Nostradamus said:
What is the S for ?

I think it stand for "Sport" , but it's usually just a lighter model. In this case, the Prestige S is lighter than the Pro and MP.

JackB1 · Jan 22, 2012

Veninga said:
Hi Jack, how would you compare this one with the BB London / Bio 300 Tour / Bio 200 Lite and EXO 3 Tour? Any word is welcome in my quest. Thanks.

Not nearly as powerful as the London. Haven't tried any of the others.
The Prestige S reminds me of the Speed 300. Light and whippy but with lots of control.

I just added 3" of lead at 3/9 and that brought it to 3 pts HL (it was 5). Feels much better dry swinging. If that doesn't increase power and plow enough, I may add some at 12' instead.

TimothyO · Jan 22, 2012

JackB1 said:
Not nearly as powerful as the London. Haven't tried any of the others.
The Prestige S reminds me of the Speed 300. Light and whippy but with lots of control.

I just added 3" of lead at 3/9 and that brought it to 3 pts HL (it was 5). Feels much better dry swinging. If that doesn't increase power and plow enough, I may add some at 12' instead.

This sounds interesting. The S at a local shop wasn't strung yet so I tried the YT Pretige Pro (non IG). Way too stiff for me! I was launching balls waaay long with the Prestige Pro when taking a full swing.

Will definitely try the S!

JackB1 · Jan 22, 2012

TimothyO said:
This sounds interesting. The S at a local shop wasn't strung yet so I tried the YT Pretige Pro (non IG). Way too stiff for me! I was launching balls waaay long with the Prestige Pro when taking a full swing.

Will definitely try the S!

The S didn't feel stiff at all, but I didn't think the YTPP was stiff either....rather right in the middle. I think the Pro has a 65 rating and the S is 62 I believe.. Those numbers sound right on to me.

Tim, this Prestige S seems right up your alley. I know you prefer lower powered racquets. I like it much more than the Speed 300 for what thats worth.

TimothyO · Jan 22, 2012

JackB1 said:
The S didn't feel stiff at all, but I didn't think the YTPP was stiff either....rather right in the middle. I think the Pro has a 65 rating and the S is 62 I believe.. Those numbers sound right on to me.

Tim, this Prestige plus seems right up your alley. I know you prefer lower powered racquets. I like it much more than the Speed 300 for what thats worth.

I missed the Pretige Plus, will try that too! I've been focused on frames with more open patterns but the Plus looks pretty good. Perhaps less of a need to mod it too.

JackB1 · Jan 22, 2012

TimothyO said:
I missed the Pretige Plus, will try that too! I've been focused on frames with more open patterns but the Plus looks pretty good. Perhaps less of a need to mod it too.

That was my autocorrect acting up. I don't know about a plus.

JackB1 · Jan 23, 2012

I just reread the TW reviews months racquet and they all mentioned trouble getting pace on serves. Although I didn't get as much pace as with my DC Pro, it wasn't that far off. Many of the testers also said they had trouble getting depth and pace on their groundstrokes. I found this true if you didn't swing fairly quickly. I would love to try this racquet with a lively multi strung at low tension to give the racquet some much needed pop.

drumnman2 · Jan 23, 2012

JackB1 said:
drumnman2 said:

Just wondering why you don't use the YT Prestige Pro? It sounds perfect for you.

Click to expand...

It just feels a little stiff to me. Some other ppl feel the same way and others think it feels great. Wish I could get one strung low and try it. I re read the review of the S also. Too me I am surprised about the lack of power comments. I'm coming from 2 yrs with a PSLGT and lately a Becker London Tour so the power level seemed good to me on the S.I was getting some good compliments on my serve with it. All relative I guess. Not saying it's anywhere near a powerful racquet, control oriented for sure.Better power than the new PS Blx 95 to me. I think the S has some good potential. Going to add some lead @ 10 & 2 and give it one more try before I have to send it back. Have you tried the Dunlop 400 tour Jack ? Seems like it might be a good fit.

JackB1 · Jan 23, 2012

drumnman2 said:
JackB1 said:

It just feels a little stiff to me. Some other ppl feel the same way and others think it feels great. Wish I could get one strung low and try it. I re read the review of the S also. Too me I am surprised about the lack of power comments. I'm coming from 2 yrs with a PSLGT and lately a Becker London Tour so the power level seemed good to me on the S.I was getting some good compliments on my serve with it. All relative I guess. Not saying it's anywhere near a powerful racquet, control oriented for sure.Better power than the new PS Blx 95 to me. I think the S has some good potential. Going to add some lead @ 10 & 2 and give it one more try before I have to send it back. Have you tried the Dunlop 400 tour Jack ? Seems like it might be a good fit.

Click to expand...

Haven't tried the Dunlop 400 Tour.

I would love to try the S with Nat gut or full bed of a premium mult at around 52 lbs, instead of this Wilson Sensation I have in my demo!

JackB1 · Jan 24, 2012

I briefly tried my demo this afternoon with 4" lead strips at 3/9 for a total of 4 grams added. Felt MUCH better to me. It took away the excessive "whippyness" and added some power and plow. Will try hitting with it some more tonite.

RyKnocks · Jan 24, 2012

Jack, it seems like the IG Radical Pro would suit you a little better then since it seems like it's right in the middle of the Prestige S and Prestige Pro.

JackB1 · Jan 24, 2012

RyKnocks said:
Jack, it seems like the IG Radical Pro would suit you a little better then since it seems like it's right in the middle of the Prestige S and Prestige Pro.

The swingweight is too high. Isn't it in the 330's?

When you say "in the middle", what are you referring to?

BTW----i measured my S with 4 g's at 3/9 and it was 327 swingweight.

RyKnocks · Jan 24, 2012

JackB1 said:
The swingweight is too high. Isn't it in the 330's?

When you say "in the middle", what are you referring to?

BTW----i measured my S with 4 g's at 3/9 and it was 327 swingweight.

I was just referring to overall performance. More power and stability than the Prestige S, but less heavy and sluggish than the Prestige Pro.

JackB1 · Jan 24, 2012

RyKnocks said:
I was just referring to overall performance. More power and stability than the Prestige S, but less heavy and sluggish than the Prestige Pro.

Not sure the Rad Pro is really less heavy feeling than the PP? They both have similar swingweight don't they? Actually the Rad Pro is 10 pts higher SW than the PP.. Either way though, I prefer the stiffer feel of the Prestiges as opposed to the ultra flexy Rads.

Played some more tonite with the S, but this time with 4 grams at 3/9.
Played better but I still needed to swing pretty fast to hit deep. I did pretty well with it though. I ending up ordering a new one so I can string it as I like.
I got a great deal on one, so if I don't like it someone else will just inherit my great deal

.

tennistomcat · Jan 24, 2012

I've been demoing the prestige S also & agree with JackB1's review. I was using a stock prestige S with no overwrap & only a vibrasorb. I've played with the Youtek prestige pro (non IG) & the pretige S felt like a muted, lighter version of that racket. I have no idea what a pro stock prestige pro feels like but maybe this would be what it would feel like before all the weight & silicone was added for customization?

The youtek prestige pro that I'm comparing it to was strung with RPM blast at 50 lbs. The demo was strung at mid tension with gamma live wire which I'm not a big fan of.

The prestige S felt similar to the prestige pro - just lighter. It did not feel overly stiff - it was very comfortable. It was solid & stable. I didn't feel it getting pushed around or twisting in my hand when trying to redirect heavy balls - it was easy to counterpunch a heavy, deep shot. I felt I could swing all out & was getting great directional control. Just like any prestige that I've used, I had to flatten out my swings to keep the balls from landing short but I've always had to do that with the prestiges since they are so low-powered. My hitting partner mentioned I was getting good control & direction on my shots but my groundies & serves were lacking pop & bite - could be the racket or the string setup or both - I usually use all poly string since I find it gives me more control & bite on my shots.

This racket seems like a good racket for those ppl who have always wanted to use the prestige but felt it was too heavy. I think that with the right string setup & lead placement, this could be a great racket for heavy hitters with big swings who are looking for a 16X19 with good control & feel. Great all court racket

Noticed right away the difference in the beam shape, especially in the throat area. It's no longer a flat beam. Not sure if the IG prestige pro has the new cross-section shape as well.

Plan on demoing the IG Radical pro next

JackB1 · Jan 24, 2012

tennistom....do you think the Prestige S retains that sweet feel on ball contact as the Pro? I am kind of torn between the two. The Pro allows you to swing at a nice medium speed and use the racquet's mass to power thru the shot, whereas the S requires more swingspeed. With my demo, I am always wanting a little extra free power. I am hoping that when restrung with a lively multi like NRG2 at low tension, it will provide the same power as the Pro with the same easy swing.

dParis · Jan 24, 2012

JackB1 said:
tennistom....do you think the Prestige S retains that sweet feel on ball contact as the Pro? I am kind of torn between the two. The Pro allows you to swing at a nice medium speed and use the racquet's mass to power thru the shot, whereas the S requires more swingspeed. With my demo, I am always wanting a little extra free power. I am hoping that when restrung with a lively multi like NRG2 at low tension, it will provide the same power as the Pro with the same easy swing.

Jack, I read that you often take note of racquets that require higher swing speeds to produce power and/or depth. That was your take on the Volkl X10-295 and Prince Rebel 98, if I recall correctly. How does the stock Prestige S compare, power-wise, to those other two racquets? Also, did you volley with the S? What were your impressions?

JackB1 · Jan 25, 2012

dParis said:
Jack, I read that you often take note of racquets that require higher swing speeds to produce power and/or depth. That was your take on the Volkl X10-295 and Prince Rebel 98, if I recall correctly. How does the stock Prestige S compare, power-wise, to those other two racquets? Also, did you volley with the S? What were your impressions?

The Rebel 98 is the most powerful of the 3 with the Prestige S in the middle and the 295 lowest. The Rebel needed acceleration to keep the ball in, whereas the S needs it to get depth. The S is a little heavier than those other 2, so it isn't quite as whippy. I definitely would struggle with the S in stock form. The lead in the hoop is a necessity for me. I am hoping that when I string up my new S it will improve the power and feel of the racquet over the demo. If it doesn't then its back to my DC Pro, which just continues to be my "go-to". When I switch from the DC Pro to the S, there is a noticeable drop in power. That is for sure.

dParis · Jan 25, 2012

JackB1 said:
The Rebel 98 is the most powerful of the 3 with the Prestige S in the middle and the 295 lowest. The Rebel needed acceleration to keep the ball in, whereas the S needs it to get depth. The S is a little heavier than those other 2, so it isn't quite as whippy. I definitely would struggle with the S in stock form. The lead in the hoop is a necessity for me. I am hoping that when I string up my new S it will improve the power and feel of the racquet over the demo. If it doesn't then its back to my DC Pro, which just continues to be my "go-to". When I switch from the DC Pro to the S, there is a noticeable drop in power. That is for sure.

Yes, I would expect there to be a noticeable drop in power from the DC Pro to the PresS. You must be missing at least a bit of spin, too. What is it about the S that has you considering switching to it - besides your natural proclivity to change gear? :wink: I don't remember reading any negative comments from you about the DC pro, or that much positive about the PresS.

I hit the Rebel 98 and my lightly modded X295 side-by-side and thought they had similar power. I might give an edge to the Volkl as the Prince's power was limited by its flex. Personally, I like the characteristic of having to swing fast in order to get depth on my shot. Up to a point, that is. I'm finding that power characteristics can be adequately adjusted through string type and tension in a variety of racquets - and to put it another way, as far as power goes, there is a lot of overlap between racquets. Either way, the PresS seems to fit into a similar category and like the Rebel 98 and X295, there seems to be a wide spectrum of opinions developing on this racquet.

JackB1 · Jan 25, 2012

dParis said:
Yes, I would expect there to be a noticeable drop in power from the DC Pro to the PresS. You must be missing at least a bit of spin, too. What is it about the S that has you considering switching to it - besides your natural proclivity to change gear? :wink: I don't remember reading any negative comments from you about the DC pro, or that much positive about the PresS.

I hit the Rebel 98 and my lightly modded X295 side-by-side and thought they had similar power. I might give an edge to the Volkl as the Prince's power was limited by its flex. Personally, I like the characteristic of having to swing fast in order to get depth on my shot. Up to a point, that is. I'm finding that power characteristics can be adequately adjusted through string type and tension in a variety of racquets - and to put it another way, as far as power goes, there is a lot of overlap between racquets. Either way, the PresS seems to fit into a similar category and like the Rebel 98 and X295, there seems to be a wide spectrum of opinions developing on this racquet.

Yes they are all in the same category of lighter models with corresponding heavier players racquets. You are correct, I have nothing negative to say at all about the DC Pro. But I always enjoy the fun of trying similar racquets in my spec range just to see what they have to offer. My intrigue with the Prestige S began when I tried a YT Prestige Pro and just loved the ball impact feel. But I knew it was a hit too heavy and demanding for me, so when the S came out I was naturally curious. The Prestige Pro does have a nicer feeling at impact then the DC Pro. So if the S has that wonderful feel in a lighter and more powerful package, sign me up! I am still undecided if that last statement is true. My demo has some cheap strings at who knows what tension, so until I try one with my string of choice, I can't say for sure. But for now, I am not ready to switch. I am just experimenting as always

. Personally I think that the S would have been more what I was after if they didn't increase the flex on it and made it slightly more powerful.

tennistomcat · Jan 25, 2012

JackB1 said:
tennistom....do you think the Prestige S retains that sweet feel on ball contact as the Pro? I am kind of torn between the two. The Pro allows you to swing at a nice medium speed and use the racquet's mass to power thru the shot, whereas the S requires more swingspeed. With my demo, I am always wanting a little extra free power. I am hoping that when restrung with a lively multi like NRG2 at low tension, it will provide the same power as the Pro with the same easy swing.

Hi Jack,
To me, the "S" has the same sweet feel & control as the pro. It's just lacking the mass to give it the plow. It has great touch - I feel I have great directional control. My only gripe was the lack of depth & pace of shot that I was hitting. But, I feel with the right string & weight setup, this racket could be a beast - I liked my prestige pro @ 50 lbs with full RPM blast - I need to string those prestiges lower than usual.

I'm coming from a LM radical MP that was leaded up to 11.7oz. I was wanting more bite & spin on my shots - especially on the kick serve - kick serves seem effortless with a 16X19 vs an 18X20 for me. I was looking for a 16X19 with great control & found that very hard to find. The Youtek Prestige Pro was awesome but was too heavy stock so I had no room to mod it up.

This racket fit the bill for me. My IG Radical Pro demo is coming soon - if I don't like the feel of the radical, I would definitely buy the Prestige S & mod it to my liking. I think the graphics on it are sweet. I don't mind the clear caps.

JackB1 · Jan 25, 2012

tennistomcat said:
Hi Jack,
To me, the "S" has the same sweet feel & control as the pro. It's just lacking the mass to give it the plow. It has great touch - I feel I have great directional control. My only gripe was the lack of depth & pace of shot that I was hitting. But, I feel with the right string & weight setup, this racket could be a beast - I liked my prestige pro @ 50 lbs with full RPM blast - I need to string those prestiges lower than usual.

I'm coming from a LM radical MP that was leaded up to 11.7oz. I was wanting more bite & spin on my shots - especially on the kick serve - kick serves seem effortless with a 16X19 vs an 18X20 for me. I was looking for a 16X19 with great control & found that very hard to find. The Youtek Prestige Pro was awesome but was too heavy stock so I had no room to mod it up.

This racket fit the bill for me. My IG Radical Pro demo is coming soon - if I don't like the feel of the radical, I would definitely buy the Prestige S & mod it to my liking. I think the graphics on it are sweet. I don't mind the clear caps.

if you are looking to pick up another one, drop me an email thru my profile or look for my post in the f/s section.. I played so good tonite with my DC Pro, that I thought to myself, "why did you just buy a Prestige S??? So impulsive I can be at times!

. I agree with most of what you said about it...I just have never played better with my current racquet and maybe I shouldn't complicate things right now?

JackB1 · Jan 27, 2012

OK, against my better judgement I sent back my demo of the Prestige S and purchased a new one so I could string it the way I wanted. So I slapped some natural gut in the mains at 53 and OG Micro cross at 51. Put 4 grams of lead at 3/9. Unfortunately all the negative things I felt with the demo didn't go away. Power was still requiring a faster swing than I felt comfortable using. The racquet still didn't have enough plowthru and just didn't feel "solid". Mishits in the upper hoop area really feel bad and just go nowhere. The sweetspot feels rather small to me compared to the Becker DC Pro. To me, there is no comparison between this and the Prestige Pro. To me, the only thing they share is the same paintjob. Those wanting a lighter Prestige I think will be disappointed. There is a reason why all the TW playtest (except Jason) were so luke-warm on this stick. For me, its just too light, whippy and low powered to work for my game. And since using it this past week, my shoulder has some definite pain probably from overestimating with it. So the Prestige S is looking for a new home.. Anyone interested knows where to look.

TimothyO · Jan 27, 2012

Hey Jack!

I'm at least curious. I'm still loving my modified 300 but am always interested in new experiments. Maybe we can hit one night and I can try your S. I think I'm free Sunday evening and Tuesday night. We could hit at Vermack. Will check with my social director.

Let me know if you're interested!

JackB1 · Jan 27, 2012

TimothyO said:
Hey Jack!

I'm at least curious. I'm still loving my modified 300 but am always interested in new experiments. Maybe we can hit one night and I can try your S. I think I'm free Sunday evening and Tuesday night. We could hit at Vermack. Will check with my social director. Let me know if you're interested!

The S is very similar to the 300. Right up your alley.

Sure I would love to hit with you. Contact me thru email or click my name to email me.
I am going to be playing at Hammond Park tomorrow from 11am to around 3 pm. You can stop by there also and we can hit there. I am just practicing with my Alta team but can break away to hit with you.

TimothyO · Jan 28, 2012

JackB1 said:
The S is very similar to the 300. Right up your alley.

Sure I would love to hit with you. Contact me thru email or click my name to email me.
I am going to be playing at Hammond Park tomorrow from 11am to around 3 pm. You can stop by there also and we can hit there. I am just practicing with my Alta team but can break away to hit with you.

I'll try to stop by there!

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